Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

So I don't say anything.

The silence stretches between us until he finally mutters, "Goodnight, Taryn."

And then the call ends.

I lower the phone from my ear, staring at the screen like it might give me some

kind of answer. But it doesn't.

I let out a breath and lean back against the edge of the bed, pressing my head

against the mattress.

The world feels heavier than usual.

And for the first time in a long time—

I feel completely, utterly lost.

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I stare up at the ceiling, my back pressed against the cold floor, the documents

still sprawled around me. My chest is tight, my thoughts tangled. I should do

something-keep digging, make another call, chase the truth until I bleed for it.

But instead, I just fucking lie here.

I close my eyes. Breathe. Try not to think about him. Try not to think about the

weight of his hand on my skin, the way his voice curled around my name like it

belonged to him. Like I belonged to him.

It doesn't work.

The memory slithers in, uninvited.

I shove it down.

A loud bang makes me jolt up. My door flies open like it owes someone money,

and then there's Zoe-her arms stacked with dresses, a piece of bread jammed

between her teeth, eyes wide and full of untamed chaos. "The fuck-?" I scramble, sweeping the stolen documents off the floor in a panic,

shoving them under my bed like I'm thirteen and hiding contraband from a strict

parent.

Zoe stomps in, completely unbothered. "You," she says through a mouthful of

bread, pointing at me like I've personally offended her ancestors. "Are going out."

I blink. "The hell I am."

"Yes. The hell you are." She marches over, slamming the dresses onto my bed.

The hangers clatter against each other. "Because you need it. Desperately."

I exhale sharply, rubbing my temples. "Zoe, I'm not in the mood for some-"I motion

vaguely at the dresses, at her overly

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11:54 Tue, 25 M

Chapter 76

determined expression. "-whatever the fuck this is."

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+53)

"Oh, I know," she says, too sweetly. "That's why I'm forcing you. Because if I don't,

this room, going batshit crazy over documents like some

refuse to let

glare at her. "I like being

on her hips, tilting

to stop being at

what better way to do that

something physical?"

narrow my eyes. "...Define

She grins, all teeth.

tells me I won't like

knew I wouldn't

the air changes-charged, thick with

metal, and aggression.

erratically, casting jagged shadows

feels like a well-dressed crime scene. Music blasts

the sounds of fists slamming into flesh, grunts of pain,

referees

goddamn underground fight

turn to

She smiles innocently.

dragged me to an illegal

ring," she corrects. "Not illegal.

Then the ring. Then

fuck is wrong with

a dismissive hand. "You need to

and I figured what

voice

kill you when she finds

I whip around.

standing next to the ring, arms

ever-is Jacob Wyatt.

I blink. Hard.

whip back to Zoe. "You

Zoe shrugs. "Guilty"

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Tue, 25 Mar

Chapter 76

up.

Jacob says casually, like he didn't just drop a

turn back to him. "Someone is

Jacob smirks. "Fighting."

"For what?"

looks at me. And then

And

the way his gaze

stomach

drop.

my spine. "Jacob,"

is fighting anyone

He doesn't reply.

Just smiles.

then I

cutting through the thick air like a

match you've all been

The crowd

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around to the ring. Two fighters are already inside-one English,

shake hands. And then, without warning, they brutalize

It's not a sport.

It's war.

the mat. The English guy lands a hook to

hard I swear I feel it. The Italian retaliates,

him

My stomach churns.

fight. This

"I want to

grabbing my arm. "Just...

fucking

fight ends with a knockout. The Italian guy

The crowd goes wild.

the announcer's voice booms

next... a challenger unlike

The lights cut out.